Trip overview
Fez el-Bali on foot with an official Spanish-speaking guide: Bab Bou Jeloud, the Bou Inania Madrasa, Al Quaraouiyine from outside and the Chouara tannery. Half or full day.
- Duration1 day
- Starts inFez
- GroupPrivate · 1–15 people
- DifficultyModerate
- LanguageEspañol
- DeparturesDaily departures all year round
Highlights
- Licensed official guide who speaks Spanish, private
- Bab Bou Jeloud and the walk down the Talaa Kebira
- The 14th-century Bou Inania Madrasa
- Nejjarine square and the Al-Attarine Madrasa
- Al Quaraouiyine seen from one of its doors
- Seffarine square, the coppersmiths' square
- The Chouara tannery from a terrace
- Full day with Fez el-Jdid, the mellah, the Royal Palace and a viewpoint over the medina
- Half day
- About 4 hours
- Full day
- About 8 hours
- Guide
- Official, Spanish-speaking
- Effort
- Slopes and steps
What we see in Fez el-Bali
A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981, with thousands of alleys and hardly any that a car can get down.
How we get around
Almost everything is on foot, and in the morning it's mostly downhill. On the full day there's a car for Fez el-Jdid, the viewpoint and the drive back. There are steps and uneven ground; for anyone with reduced mobility we put together a shorter route. For the rest of your stay, read what to see in Fez.
How to plan the visit
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1: Fez el-Bali with an official guide
9:00 The guide picks you up at your riad or at the hotel entrance. 9:15 Bab Bou Jeloud and the walk down the Talaa Kebira. 9:45 Bou Inania Madrasa. 10:30 Food market, Nejjarine square and fountain. 11:15 Al-Attarine Madrasa, a door of Al Quaraouiyine and the zaouia of Moulay Idriss II from outside. 12:00 Seffarine square and the Chouara tannery from a terrace. 13:00 End of the half day; the guide walks you to your riad or to a taxi.
On the full day we have lunch in the medina and at 14:30 drive to Fez el-Jdid: the mellah and the doors of the Royal Palace. Then a ceramics workshop if you're interested, and in the late afternoon the viewpoint at the Borj Sud or the Marinid Tombs. Back at your accommodation at around 17:30.
What's included
Included (4)
- Licensed official guide who speaks Spanish
- Pick-up at your riad or hotel in Fez
- Car with driver on the full-day tour
- Bottled water
Not included (4)
- Entry to madrasas and museums
- Lunch
- Shopping
- Tips (optional)
Important information (5)
- Wear flat shoes with a good grip: there are slopes, steps and slippery ground.
- Madrasa tickets are paid in cash, in dirhams.
- On Friday at midday many workshops and shops close.
- Make way for donkeys and mules: when you hear "balak", step to one side.
- To enter the madrasas, clothes that cover shoulders and knees are best.
Prices per person
Half day
About 4 hours on foot through Fez el-Bali with an official Spanish-speaking guide (price per person, based on 2)
Full day
About 8 hours: medina, lunch, Fez el-Jdid, mellah, Royal Palace and viewpoint, with a car for transfers (price per person, based on 2)
Fixed price per person, whatever the size of your group.
Payment and cancellation
You pay a 15% deposit when you book. The rest is paid on the first day of the trip, in cash or by bank transfer. You can also pay it by PayPal or card, with a 5% surcharge.
Private: free up to 48 hours before the start. If you cancel in time, we refund the full deposit.
Did you take this trip with us? Leave the first review using your booking reference.
Read our reviews on Tripadvisor
Leave a reviewFrequently asked questions
What's the difference between Fez el-Bali and Fez el-Jdid?
Fez el-Bali is the old medina, founded in the 9th century, with the madrasas, the tannery and the souks. Fez el-Jdid means New Fez and was built by the Marinids in the 13th century, next to the older city; the Royal Palace and the mellah are there. You can see the first in half a day; for both you need the full day.
What time is best to see the Chouara tannery?
Mid-morning, between 10:00 and 12:00, when the tanners are working in the vats and the light falls straight in. In the afternoon there's less going on. The smell is strong, especially in summer; first thing it's a little less noticeable. From the terraces of the leather shops you see the whole tannery.
What happens on the tannery terraces?
To see the tannery you go up to the terraces of the leather shops around it. Going up is free and in return they show you bags, jackets and slippers. You can look, ask prices and come down without buying anything; the guide makes this clear before you go in. If you do want to buy, haggle, because the first price is always high.
Can you do it with children or older people?
Yes, with some care. In the morning you're going downhill most of the time, but there are steps and slippery ground, and the medina gets crowded at midday. With small children or older people we recommend the half day, starting at 9:00. If anyone has reduced mobility, we'll talk it through beforehand to add more stretches by car.
